Sadler shoots 87 in first round of state golf tournament; enters final day in 26th place

Central High School sophomore Hollee Sadler was able to piece together a 15-over-par 87 in the first round of the TSSAA State Golf Championships at WillowBrook Golf Course Tuesday despite struggles with her putter, especially on her first nine.

Sadler opened up on the much tougher back nine at WillowBrook and finished with a

Staff photo by Josh Peterson - Hollee Sadler hits her first tee shot of the state golf championship off the No. 10 tee at WillowBrook.

9-over-par 45. She got into a rhythm on the front nine and shot par on no. 3,5 and 6 and birdied 7. But she landed in the water on no. 9 and triple-bogeyed the final hole.

Her 87 is good enough to tie her for 26th in the state entering the final round. She will tee off at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday on no. 10. She has much better scores in her and could move to a top 20 finish. She shot 84 to qualify for the state and has posted a score as high as 80 this season – in the very first tournament.

“If she can put up a round like she is capable of, she will be a top 20 finisher,” said golf coach Mike Ray. “That is nothing to sneeze at.”

On the her first nine, Sadler struggled with the putter. She two-putted on her first four holes; including a missed three-foot par put on no. 12.

“Putting is my weakest area,” Sadler said before she started her practice round Monday.

Samantha Gotcher of Clarksville posted the best score of the day with a 1-under-par 71.

Sadler drive avoids water. Her second shot from a tough lie on top of a hill was left short. She two-putted for bogey.

No. 11

A short bogey putt lips out. She taps in for double-bogey and is 3-over through two.

No. 12

A three-foot putt for par just misses high of the hole. She taps in for bogey and is now four over through three.

No. 13

Sadler leaves only five-feet for par after a nice approach. But her putt missed just left and she settles for bogey.

No. 14

Sadler hits stick on chip from fringe. She knocks down short putt for par. First one-put of the day on the green.

No. 15

She chunked her second shot off a bad lie and ends up with a bogey.

No. 16

Sadler saves par with a two-putt from 75 feet away. Her best two putts of the day. She is seven

Staff photo by Josh Peterson - A short putt lips out for Hollee Sadler in the first round of the state golf tournament.

over through seven.

No. 17

A 10-foot putt for par falls just short. She hits short bogey putt and is eight over through eight holes.

No. 18

Sadler uses driver from tee box and ends up in the water. She saves bogey with a long two-putt.

No. 1

Sadler puts together another bogey and is now 10-over par through 10.

No. 2

Another bogey.

No. 3

Sadler nails a par on the tough and narrow par 3.

No. 4

Bogey.

No. 5

Sadler, only a sophomore and her first year to ever play golf, by the way, puts together another par for her second in three holes.

No. 6

Back-to-back pars and three in four holes for Sadler with a par here. She is 12-over after 15 holes. According to golf coach Mike Ray, “looks like she’ll be in the middle of the pack after the first round.”

No. 7

Sadler is closing out the round strong it looks like with the first Birdie of the day on the par 5 seventh hole. She is now 11-over. A couple more birdies could finish her in the low 80s.

No. 8

She bogeys the par 3 no. 8.

No. 9

Sadler struggles to a 3-over on the final hole after finding water. She finished 86 today. Tee time for tomorrow yet to be determined.